How important to you is a love story in your fiction that is not otherwise explicitly a love story?

[Chazmatazz269]

It seems like there is always a love story and sometimes it’s completely unnecessary. Unfortunately, i’ve encountered a couple of shows that i really like except for the annoying over focus on one or more love stories. Maybe they’re just not touching on whatever it is that attracts me to a love story, but i’m mostly sure that they are just torquing one into a story that it doesn’t actually serve.
I would frankly prefer that there was no love story at all, rather than having a bad one distract from the higher qualities of a given show.
So, how important is the inevitable love story to you when you’re just looking for a drama, adventure or comedy? Can you live without it or do you feel like it always improves the story and character arcs?

[MontBlanc]

It’s a nice bonus, not a requirement.

A subtle love story can add depth and humanity to a plot, but it shouldn’t overshadow the main story if that’s not the focus.

When it fits naturally, it makes the story richer. When forced, it distracts.

[qwerty2469]

Hate it. Most stories don't have a love interest or aspect in it. Why do all of our TV shows and movies focus on it?

[captain_voidwalker]

I find it an annoying distraction from the real story